"For the present I believe it is." "And will be for some time to come, if they all stay till they're cured. But have you seen Jack?" "Yes--last evening. He was very sorry that he could not wait for you, but it may be as well, however. He has gone down to San Francisco, and he will wait for you there. The stage leaves here in about two hours, and I advise you to take passage in it, if you are not too much fatigued." "I'm not tired a bit, Mr. Kuger. I will go back. Thank you for the trouble you have taken." "No trouble, Miss Borlan. Give my respects to Jack, and tell him I will be down in a week or two. Good-morning." While talking, Mr. Ruger had about evenly divided his glances between the very beautiful face of Fanny Borlan and the somewhat expressive countenances of the Ten Milers. Not that he found anything to admire in their damaged physiognomies, but he never wholly ignored the presence of any one. "Good-morning, gentlemen," he said, as he rode up in front of them. "Not to _you_, Tom Ruger," spoke a tall Ten Miler--the only one, by-the-way, who had come out of the previous day's trial unscathed. "Not to you, Tom Ruger! Where's Borlan?" "He's gone down the coast on business," said Ruger, "and may not be back for several months." "We'll not wait for _him_" was the miner's reply. At the same time he drew a revolver. "You had _better_ wait," said Ruger, also producing a revolver. The Ten Miler paused, and looked around at his companions. They did not present a formidable array of fighting stock. In fact, they were the sorest-looking men that Ten Mile Gulch ever saw; and as the unscathed surveyed them, he seemed to think he _had_ better wait. [Illustration: "YOU HAD BETTER WAIT," SAID RUGER, ALSO PRODUCING A REVOLVER.] "You'll wait for Mr. Borlan?" queried Ruger. "I reckon we'd better," answered the unscathed. "And while you are waiting, you had better take a cursory glance at Mr. Watson," suggested Ruger. "At the present time he is reposing in the shade of an acacia-bush, just back of the late lamented William Foster's rural habitation. Good-morning, gentlemen; and don't get impatient." If Mr. Ruger had any fear of treachery, he did not exhibit it, for he never turned his head as he rode off toward the valley. Nor was there any danger; for beneath his suggestions about Mr. Watson the unscathed had detected a thing or two. "I'm glad we waited," he said. "I begin to see a thing or two. Them as is able will follow me up the Gulch." About half a score went with him. Mr. Watson was still enjoying the shade of the acacia-bush. In fact, he couldn't get away, which Mr. Ruger well knew.